Updated September 30, 2026 · AcademyCue Editorial Team
JapanesePod101 vs Preply
Facts checked September 30, 2026.
JapanesePod101 vs Preply: the differences
| Compare | JapanesePod101 ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |  Preply |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $4 | €2 |
| Lesson price from | $37.25 | €2 |
| Free tier | YesHas it | No |
| Languages | Japanese | English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Chinese, Arabic, Japanese, Portuguese, Polish, Dutch, Turkish, Korean, Hindi, IndonesianCovers more |
| Lesson length (minutes) | 30 to 60 | 25 to 50 |
| Price per month | $10 | Not confirmed |
| Free trial length | 7 days | Not confirmed |
| Money-back period | 60 days | Not confirmed |
| Number of languages | Not confirmed | 90 |
| AI conversation practice | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Certificate | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Kids version | Not confirmed | Yes |
Same on both: Offline use (Yes).
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Key differences
- Free tier: only JapanesePod101.
- Support channels: only Preply offers Chat.
- Languages: only Preply offers English, Spanish, French.
- Learning method: only JapanesePod101 offers Audio, Live group.
Our verdict on each
JapanesePod101
JapanesePod101 suits learners who want Japanese alone, combining app and audio study, offline downloads, a certificate and live classes in sessions of 30 to 60 minutes. An entry price of $4 and a 7 days free trial keep the first commitment small, with a free tier behind the trial.
Preply
Preply suits learners who want live lessons with a tutor they choose, and parents learning alongside a child. Each tutor sets their own price, so the €2 entry point says little about the bill you run up over a term. There is no free tier, so the first lesson is a purchase.
Score breakdown
| Area | JapanesePod101 | Preply |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.0Entry at $4 and $10 monthly sit above Bunpro at $0 and Reading Eggs at £6.99, though private lessons start at $37.25. | 9.8HigherEntry sits at €2, ranking 8 of 35 brands compared, with a 12 hours cancellation window. |
| Offer | 9.1A single subscription spans app, audio and live 1to1, with a certificate available and offline downloads supported, so paid study covers private and group classes. | 9.2Higherfrom 100,000 tutors, 90 languages, ai conversation practice, offline lessons and a kids version on one account. |
| Trust | Not confirmed | 9.3Screened tutors with background checks, a switch or full refund if the trial lesson disappoints, and support on email, chat and help centre. |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | JapanesePod101 | Preply |
|---|---|---|
| Language learning apps | 17 of 46 | 3 of 46 |
| Online language tutors and classes | 9 of 25 | 2 of 25 |
Choosing between them
Pick JapanesePod101 if free tier matter most.
Pick Preply if cost and languages matter most.
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | JapanesePod101 | Preply |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | United States |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | JapanesePod101 | Preply |
|---|---|---|
| Learning method | App, Audio, Live 1to1, Live groupCovers more | Live 1to1, App |
| Legal entity | Innovative Language Learning | Preply Inc. |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | United States |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 2012 |
| Support channels | Email, Help centre | Email, Chat, Help centreCovers more |
Tutoring
| Fact | JapanesePod101 | Preply |
|---|---|---|
| Median lesson price | Not confirmed | €26 |
| Subjects | Not confirmed | Math, English, Languages, School |
| Lesson format | Not confirmed | 1to1, App |
| Number of tutors | Not confirmed | from 100,000 |
| Tutor vetting | Not confirmed | Screened |
| Tutor background checks | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Cancellation notice | Not confirmed | 12 hours |
| Satisfaction guarantee | Not confirmed | Free switch to another tutor or a full refund if the trial lesson disappoints |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | JapanesePod101 | Preply | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price per month | $10below the median | Not confirmed | $13.24 |
| Free trial length | 7 daysat the median | Not confirmed | 7 days |
| Money-back period | 60 dayshighest quarter | Not confirmed | 30 days |
| Number of languages | Not confirmed | 90above the median | 41 |
| Lesson length (minutes) | 30 to 60at the median | 25 to 50below the median | 30 |
Median across 33 listed providers.
Pros and cons
JapanesePod101
Pros
- app, audio and live 1to1 puts app, audio, private classes and group classes in a single subscription, so a learner can move between formats without buying a second platform.
- Private classes start at $37.25 for 30 to 60 minutes, and that entry lesson price ranks 6 of 6 on the tutor comparison.
- A 60 days money back period ranks 2 of 29 on that measure, ahead of the rest of the group.
Cons
- Support runs on email and help centre only, so a spoken conversation is not part of the service.
- The catalogue covers Japanese alone, so a second language means a second subscription.
- A 7 days trial is brief, ranking 8 of 21 on trial length across the brands listed.
Preply
Pros
- You choose the tutor from a pool of from 100,000, so a weak match is a change rather than a commitment.
- A trial lesson that disappoints can be swapped for another tutor or refunded in full, and the cancellation window is 12 hours.
- Ai conversation practice and offline lessons mean study continues on days with no live session.
Cons
- There is no free tier, so nothing can be tried before paying.
- Tutors set their own prices, so the €2 entry is not the bill: the median lesson is €26.
- Support runs on email, chat and help centre, so there is no phone line when a booking goes wrong.
Who each suits
JapanesePod101
Who it suits
- Learners who want live teacher contact as well as self study, since app, audio and live 1to1 puts app, audio, private classes and group classes in a single subscription.
- Readers who want a long window to change their mind, given the free tier, the 7 days trial and the 60 days money back period.
- Commuters and travellers, since offline downloads are supported for the app and audio side.
Who should look elsewhere
- Bunpro at $0 if starting at no cost matters more than having a teacher.
- Reading Eggs at £6.99 for a reader weighing subscriptions across several languages rather than a Japanese catalogue.
- Readers who need spoken support, since contact runs on email and help centre.
Preply
Who it suits
- Learners who want live speaking practice and are happy to interview tutors until the match works.
- Parents who want adult lessons and a kids version under the same account, with 90 languages available.
- Anyone who values a switch or a full refund after a trial lesson more than a fixed course.
Who should look elsewhere
- Bunpro, because it costs $0 and suits anyone unwilling to pay per lesson from the first booking.
- Phase6, because a course at €0 is a smaller commitment than lessons at the €26 median.
- Reading Eggs, because one entry payment of £6.99 is easier on a fixed budget than a per lesson bill.
Questions about each
JapanesePod101
What does JapanesePod101 cost for a first subscription?+
Two figures matter. The entry plan starts at $4, and the monthly plan is $10, both listed in USD. The entry figure is the number to check at sign-up, while the monthly plan is what a reader pays as the subscription continues. Private live classes are priced apart from both figures.
How much is a private lesson and how long does it last?+
A private live class has a lesson price of $37.25, and each session runs 30 to 60 minutes. That places it under the €44.31 for lesson prices across this comparison, so a reader moving to private classes sees a moderate rather than premium rate.
Preply
How much does a Preply lesson cost?+
The cheapest tutor on Preply is €2 for a lesson, and the median lesson is €26. Every tutor sets their own rate, so what you pay depends on who you book and rises as you move toward experienced teachers. Preply ranks 1 of 6 compared brands on the cheapest lesson price.
Is there a free tier or a free trial lesson?+
There is no free tier, so nothing on Preply is free to use. What stands in its place is cover on the opening lesson: if the trial lesson disappoints, you can switch to another tutor or take a full refund. With lessons of 25 to 50 minutes, the first booking is small enough to treat as a test.